Clock-controlled circuit closer



Aug. 17 1926. 1,596,677

H. E. METZ CLOCK CONTROLLED CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Jan. 6. 1925 Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES HOWARD ELMER METZ, OF 'MANASSAS, VIRGINIA.

CLOCK-CONTROLLED CIRCUIT CLOSER.

Application filed January 6, 1925. Serial No. 844.

The present invention appertains generally to circuit closers and more particularly to a clock controlled circuit closer which is designed to close the circuit in conjunction 5 with the ')arking lightof an automobile. The invention aims to provide a structure which may be mounted on the dash board of an automobile and set so that the parking light may be lighted at a desired time.

A very important object of the invention is to provide a circuit closer of this nature which is possessed of an extremely simple and efficient structure, one which is fairly reliable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture and install, durable, not liable to readily get out of order, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a structure which is assembled so that it may be easily controlled and set when mounted on the dash board.

lVith the above and numerous other objects'in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain 5 novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of arts as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view. of the clock controlled circuit closer.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, and

Figure 3 is a. top plan View thereof.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will 5 and has mounted therein the usual main spring 6 which may be wound through the shaft 7. A gear 8 is mounted on the shaft 7 and meshes with the internal gear 9 of a collar 10 which is rotatable about the front end 11 of the casing 5. This structure is preferred in order that the clock may be easily wound when mounted through the dash board A as indicated in Figure 2. The spring 12 of the alarm mechanism of the clock has one end attached as usual to the shaft 13 which is aligned with an opening 1.4 in the front of the clock casing in order that a key may be engaged therewith for winding the spring. This alarm mechanism is of the conventional type, and those parts thereof will only be described which are particularly pertinent to the circuit closer. The alarm mechanism may be set by means of the knob 15 which is located to the front of the casing and has a pointer for association with beseen that the clock casing is indicated at asuitable dial 1.6. The dial 17 of the clock proper is made comparatively small in the present embodiment of the invention in order that the shaft 13 may be accessible from the front of the clock casing rather than from the rear thereof as is more com- 111011. In my improved structure, the shaft 1.3 is continued and projected through the rear of the casing 5.

Arms 18 and 19 are fixed as at 20 in any suitable manner to the rear of the casing 5 and support a U-shaped frame 21 having mounted therein a block or nut 22 with an internal threaded bore for receiving the screw threaded member 23, one end of which is provided with an insulated tip 24 and the other end with a slot 25. A reduced exten sion 26 of a flat formation is provided on the rear end of the shaft 13 and extends into i the slot 25. An annular shoulder 27 is formed on the screw threaded member 23 and a coil spring 29 is disposed about the slotted end of the screw threaded member 23, about the extension 26 and the rear end of the shaft 13 and impinges against the shoulder 27 and the rear of the casing 5.

A. pair of spring metal plates 30 are held in spaced relation to each other on the end of the frame 21 by means of a bolt or the like 31 being insulated from each other and from the frame by insulators 32, or in any other suitable manner. These plates 30 are bent over into the frame as indicated in Figure 3 so as to form the spaced contact portions 33.

WVhen the shaft 13 is turned to wind the spring 12 of the alarm mechanism in the clock, the screw threaded member 23 is withdrawn from the nut or block 22. The spring 29 holds this screw threaded member so engaged with the nut 22 that when the alarm mechanism is relased by the clock mechanism in a well known manner, the spring 12 will cause the shaft 13 to turn so as to turn the screw threaded member so that it will pass through the block and its tip 2% engage the inner contact 33 and presses into engagement with the other contact por tion, thereby closing a circuit through wires 34 which are adapted to be connected in circuit with the parking light in a manner which will be readily understood.

It will be seen from the above description that the operator of an automobile may set the alarm at the time it would be desirable to have the parking light lit and when that time arrives the alarm mechanism will be set in operation so as to operate the circuit closer and thus the parking light will be lit without any further attention on the part of the operator. It will also be apparent that the elOCk mechanism and alarm mechanism may be of any conventional formation and that my circuit closer may be readily associated in operative assemblage therewith. The structure which I have disclosed in the present embodiment of the invention is of a very simple nature and attains all the features of advantages which are enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description. Although I have described this embodiment with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claim or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what 1 claim is A circuit closer of the class described, including a U-shaped bracket comprising :t big-ht portion and a pair of parallel spaced leg portions, a nut mounted stationarily between intermediate portions of the leg portions so that the plane ol the nut is reetangularly disposed to the longitudinal dimensions of the leg portions, a screw threaded through the nut and extending longitudinally with the leg portions, an insulated tip at the end 01' the screw adjacent the bight portion, and a pair of spaced contacts mounted on the bight portion in the path of movement of the tip.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature.

HOWARD ELMER METZ. 

